What features do you look for in a new car?

[ColbertWatcher]

[flvegan]

1. That it's used.

Unless I'm uber rich and buying a supercar, I'll probably always buy used.

I know, I'm horrible.

[Muttocracy]

2. really new car, or new to me? nt

[ColbertWatcher]

3. Whichever you choose. n/t

[Muttocracy]

4. ok - manual trans, not too much rust, big enough for dogs, good gas mileage, runs OK, good brand. nt

[sandnsea]

5. Other: rotflmao

New car? Surely you jest.

[Iwasthere]

6. Diesel Diesel Diesel !

I run my cars on straight waste grease (easy conversion, not bio). I get plenty from local restaurants. I drive a Ford excursion for free. I can drive from Portland, or to Miami, Florida for a about $10.00 or $20.00 bucks. I have to start and stop the car on Bio Diesel.

[ContraBass Black]

7. Reliability is my first consideration.

[Blue_Tires]

8. performance!

[MercutioATC]

11. Exactly!

[sellitman]

9. I buy only used.

The reasons are varied.

Mostly initial cost, service record, and then fuel econ.

But now that I'm unemployed ..... I repair old faithfuls.

[CatholicEdHead]

10. Fuel mileage

Right now a trade-in to a used Civic looks to be well worth it.

[TahitiNut]

12. Form factors first, cost of ownership second, features third.

Form factors include headroom (all seats), legroom, visibility (!), maneuverability/drivability, ease of entry/exit, parking space required, and everything ERGONOMIC. Cost of ownership includes fuel efficiency, reliability, insurance costs, resale value, etc.

[RoccoR5955]

13. For me, there are two.

As a patriotic American, I look for fuel economy, AND country of origin.
Not only do I care where the car is made, but where it is ENGINEERED.
Many foreign cars are now made in the US, and this just does not cut it for me. The profits still go overseas, and the really high paying engineering jobs are not here in the US, but somewhere else.
Don't just buy an American made car, buy an American ENGINEERED car.

[ColbertWatcher]

29. Good point. n/t

[screembloodymurder]

14. In order of importance:

utility, comfort, safety, and economy.

[PBS Poll-435]

15. Must have a great stereo (inc Sat. radio)

[TheCowsCameHome]

16. Reliability/Dependability

I buy only used, and I don't want to spend my time and money getting it fixed.

[Xithras]

17. It's a money issue across the board. Fuel efficiency is part of that.

How much will it cost to buy? How much will it cost to maintain? How much will it cost to insure? How much will it cost to keep fueled, given my driving habits? Is it reliable, or will it consume large amounts of cash in repairs?

That's one of the reasons I DON'T drive a hybrid. I don't drive much, and therefore I don't spend that much on fuel in the first place. I would replace the car long before it would save me any money.

Some of the other options posted aren't really considerations as much as they are obvious limitations. The number of passengers carried really isn't up for debate if you have 5 people in your family.

Nation of origin is only a factor if it somehow relates to the overall cost of the vehicle.

[Midlodemocrat]

18. Two years ago, I purchased a 2007 Town and Country Limited

Completely loaded. I didn't need it. I wanted it. Plus, it was blue and my state had just kicked out Allen (previous van was red because it needed tow capabilities, long story)

I doubt I'll do that again when I buy again. I need a van because of the kids and carpooling and such. It's two years old this month and has 14,000 miles on it. I don't drive it a lot, so honestly, I don't feel all that badly about the carbon footprint.

I wanted to drive a car that was fully loaded instead of the car that was 'practical' for the family. Selfish? Probably. Although my husband loves its ability to haul stuff as well.

As far as buying another one? No clue. This one is mine for the long haul.

[plaintiff]

19. I zoom zoom!

Now and then I drive over to the turnpike where there's a 5 mile pancake flat and arrow straight stretch and go way over 100. :D
Just for a few minutes.

[Speck Tater]

20. My present car cost me $100. 6 years ago. Runs great. No new cars for me. NT

[blaze]

21. Used and then fuel economy n/t

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

22. The last time I bought a new car was in 1982, a Pontiac Trans-Am that I traded in for a used 1984

Audi 4000, which was a far better car. I swore back then I would never buy a new car again.

Joke is on me, as I can't afford a new car anymore! Be careful what you wish for. ;)

:rofl:

PS..I am now driving a 1995 Nissan Maxima and I love it. I paid $1500 for it and invested another $500 (tires) :)

[Evoman]

23. New car? Pfft...I don't ever buy anything less than 15 years old.

Waste of money.

[TransitJohn]

24. Other

1) that it's used
2) has four wheel/all wheel drive
3) fuel efficiency
4) costs over the life of the vehicle

[codjh9]

25. Combine the first two - initial cost AND mpg - and I usually buy them used too n/t

[Stinky The Clown]

26. Something that floats my prodigeous ass down the road as if on a cloud .......

.... and gets good mileage.

:)

[geniph]

27. Manual, ABS, all-wheel drive, reliable

and relatively peppy. Everything else is either optional or undesirable.

I buy Subarus.

[qwlauren35]

28. It's a mix of 1 & 2.

I haven't bought anything other than a compact or subcompact in my life. And every car has been a stickshift. I fell in love with the hatchback style nearly 20 years ago - I'd hate to give it up, because I love being able to get tons of stuff into a very small car.

But truly, it's cost, mileage and reliability for me. And I guess cost is #1, because mpg and reliability all come back to money.

I do NOT like spending money on a car.

Now, there are some perks that I do love. Cupholders are wonderful, rear-window defrosters are as mandatory as air-conditioning, and I do love intermittent wipers. But I've never had anything more sophisticated than that, so I can live without it.

Guess that tells me how cheap I am. Right now, I don't even have power steering.

[dysfunctional press]

30. i don't buy new cars.

never have, never will.

we just bought a new(to us) used-car for my wife, and the main thing we looked for was that it was a vw new beetle.
with a sunroof and automatic transmission.

we settled on a 2003 with 22K miles on it- snap orange.
we missed a 2001 with 14K miles by less than 2 hours- in 2001 they had a 10year/100k mile warranty, so it still had 3 years and 85K left on it. dammit. :banghead:

[johnfunk]

31. Electric drive, ejection seats, espresso maker, moto-torpedos...

... with which to destroy Hummers and SUVs hogging the highway.

[rucky]

32. Sorry, but too few cup holders can be a dealbreaker.

We take our beverages very seriously in this family.

[IndianaJones]

33. that its a GM or Ford. nt.